George j



(No Model.)

G. J. WAINWRIGHT. COMBINED OPERA GLASS AND PHONE.

Patented Dec. 29. 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. \VAIXVRIGIIT, OI" l\'E\\' YORK, X. Y., ASSIGXOR TO \VALTER JAMES "AIXVRIGI'IT, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED OPERA GLASS AND PHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming pm i; of Letters Patent No. 574,124, dated December 29, 1896.

Application filed December 16, 1895. Serial No. 572.268. -'No model. Patented in France February 7,

To a-Zl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. \VAIS- WRIGHT, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in a Combined Opera Glass and Phone, (for which I haveobtained Letters Patent in France, No. 253,777, dated February '7, 1896;) and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part.- of thisspecification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in opera-glass attachments.

The object of the invention is to providea combined opera-glass and sound-collector so constructed that persons occupying rear seats in places of amusement and those whose hearin g is defective can easily see and hear what is going on upon the stage, no matter how greatthe distance between the stage and the rear part of the house, and for other purposes.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my complete device. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion of the opera-glass and sound-collecting tube. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the several parts folded together for purposes of packing. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lower portion of an opera-glass, showing a flaring funnelshaped sound-collecting chamber.

In the accompanying drawings, a is the usual opera, field, or marine glass, made, as usual,in telescopic sections and provided with the ordinary adjusting means I) and upper and lower lenses 0 (I.

e represents the lower portion or pocket-s tions ff fniove, and these lower sections are provided at a point above the bottom lenses d with a series of sound-wave openings g, preferably arranged in circular series, as shown. If desired, a ftmnel-shaped soundcollector g, provided with a collarr as shown in Fig. 4, can be loosely fitted on the lower portion 0 of the opera-glass above thesoundwave openings 9 g, so as to deflect the incoming s0uud-waves into the openings 9 g.

The top lenses 0 rest on or'are screwed, as usual, upon the caps or seats h. Extending through the sides of these caps below the upper lenses are tubes 1', the open ends of which open into the hollow barrelsf. These tubes extend outwardly from the caps. as shown. Elbows 1.: are connected to and are arranged so as to be freely turnable within said tubes 1'.

I I are tubes formed in telescopic sections and preferably composed of thin metal, the lower-ends of which are connected in any suitable manner to the elbows k. A rubber gasket 12: surrounds the tubes 1 and elbow k, thus aflording aflexible connection at that point.

11 is a curved spring fastened in the elbow l', its upper end bearing against the tube 1, and tending to force said tube inwardly and holding the same and the earpiece o in the ear of the operator.

In the upper portion of the barrels, directly below the lenses 0, is located a sound gathering or retaining chamber p. This chamber 1) a is preferably formed with its mouth or re ceiving-opening 1) smaller than the body for the purpose of retaining the sound-waves after they have been gathered and allowing them to escape to the car through the tube connections. The lenses 0 form the dia phragms, so that the sound-waves after entering the openings or perforations 9 pass up through the hollow barrels, then through the opening in the sound-gathering chamber 1). The sound-waves then come in contact with the lenses 0, forming the diaphragms, when they are again deflected against said soundcollecting chamberand immediatelyenter the tube and are conveyed to the ears of the operator.

The operation of my device is as follows: Supposing a person to have a back seat in a place of amusement or sires to not only hear 'lltlt l5 l 'kllllg Oll l llt ll the stage, but also to obtain a good view, the glass is placed to the eyes and the cantubcs insertcd in the ears of the o'lltlitlOl'. The

sound-waves on entering the openings g pass up through the hollow barrels, which form the receiving instrument, and through the opening in the sound-collecting chamber p. They then come in contact; with the lenses 0, which in this instance adapt themselves as diaphragms. After coming in contact with such diaphragms the sound-waves are deflected against the walls of the sound gathering or receiving chamber 11, the same thereby forming the transmitter, as such waves after striking said walls will enter the tubes communicating with the hollow barrels and will convey the sound to the ears of the person using the device. \Vhile the sound-waves are reaching and operating on the ear the eyes are focused on the object to be seen. Thus the eyes and cars are acting in unity for the accomplishment of the same object viz., to see and hear at the same time. By

enlargement of the sphere of both by means of mechanical contrivances the unpleasant inability to hear and see well is greatly diminished, if not altogether avoided.

It is veryevident that this invention is api plicable to field, marine, and other glasses, and other places than opera-houses, the leeture-room. or the church, among which may i be mentioned the navigating of crooked riv- Z ets, sea voyages, and in the field, where see ing and hearing in long distances a re most important.

It is well known to many people who use opera and other glasses that the eoncentration of the sight on any object also intensifies the hearing; that there is a combined '3 action from sympathy or other cause between the optic nerve and the'diaphragm of the car by which the sound-wave is made more distinct, the sight clearer, and the hearing less difiicult; but to my knowledge no mechani ical means have ever been employed to bring these two senses into unity of action for both hearing and seeing at the same time. I therefore do not limit myself to the exact device shown and described, but wish to claim, broadly, the method of intensifying or enlarging the sightand hearing by means of uniting them together for joint action in prcl ducing the result specified.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The herein-described opera or marine glass having the sound-receiving chamber comprising a series of openings in the lower part of the barrel, a sound-collector in the upper portion of the same, the lens above said sound-collector forming a diaphragm, and an ear-tube extending outwardly from the upper portion of said barrel for the purpose set forth.

2. An opera or marine glass having the lens in the lower portion of the barrel, the sound-receiving openings above said lower lens, a sound-collecting chamber in the upper portion of the same, the lens above said sound-collector forming a diaphragm, and an ear-tube extending outwardly from the upper portion of the barrel below the upper lens or diaphragm and adj ustably secured to and communicating with said barrel as set- E forth.

3. The combination with an operaglass havingthc usual lens in its bottom, the soundreceiviug openings above the same, a soundcollecting chamber in the upper portion of the barrel below the top lens, the said upper lens serving as a diaphragm, and an ear-tube communicating with the upper portion of said barrel at a point below the top lens thereof and adapted to enter the cars of the opera tor, as set forth.

4. The herein-described opera glass and phone having two or more lenses, the upper lens acting as a deflector, the interposed diaplmtgm between said lenses, the sound re- 1 ceiving and conveying chambers, and an eartube connection, for the purpose set forth.

5. The hereinalescribed opera or like glass having the sound-receiving chamber in its lower part, the conveying-chamber in its upper portion, the upper lens acting as a deflector, a tube connected to the conveyingf chamber formed in telescopic sections, and a spring arranged within said tube for the purpose set forth.

6. An opera or like glass having the soundreceiving chamber in its lower section, a sound-conveyer in its upper portion, the upper lens acting as a deflector, the ear-tube attachment, the latter being constructed in telescopical sections and adapted to fold to E the length of the glass, as described.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE .l. \VAIXWRIGIIT.

\Vit ncsses:

O. E. Dt'rrv, C. M. Wanna. 

